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Desperate people do desperate things, and James Verone is no exception.

The 59-year-old recently robbed a bank in his hometown of Gastonia, North Carolina, not because of some get rich scheme, but apparently, for healthcare.

Verone, an out of work delivery driver, says he walked into the RBC Bank in Gastonia and made an unusual robbery request—one dollar.

According to reports Verone slipped the bank teller a note saying, “This is a bank robbery. Please only give me one dollar.” Then proceeded to wait outside for police to arrest him.

Why would someone rob a bank for one dollar? For Verone, the answer was simple: healthcare.

“I wanted to make it known that this wasn’t for monetary reasons, but for medical reasons.”

Verone suffers from a number of ailments: a growth on his chest, two ruptured disks in his back and a problem with his left foot. According to Verone, the pain was unbearable and because he was out of work and out of money he felt committing a crime was his only way to receive medical care.

Verone’s plan was to commit the robbery, get sentenced to three years in prison, get treated for his ailments, and then move to South Carolina to live in a Myrtle Beach Condo.

Police charged Verone with larceny, not robbery, due to the low amount of money he demanded. Although his bail was recently lowered to $2,000, Verone has no intentions of paying it.

Although Verone is receiving medical care in jail, some accuse him of manipulating the system, and he agrees.

He told a local news reporter, “I guess I am manipulating the courts to get medical care,” but he feels he has no other choice.

What do you think? Is James Verone manipulating the system or just doing what’s necessary to stay healthy? Sound off!